Niagara Falls

This has to be the highlight for most visitors to Canada - Seeing Niagara Falls. It is certainly impressive but it can be very busy and very tourist-y. Locals know that there are actually two falls - One in Canada, known as the “Horseshoe Falls”, and other in the United States, known as the “American Falls” and the “Bridal Veil Fall” (separated from the American falls by “Luna” island which can be visited).

Niagara Falls has been a “must see” attraction for most visitors to Canada and even for Canadians. The falls are free to visit at any time of the year (though parking is not free) and are truly spectacular to behold. The falls are located on the Niagara River on the border between Canada (Ontario) and the United States (New York state near to Buffalo) with “Niagara Falls” the name of the cities on both sides of the line.

The views from the Canadian side are the most spectacular though on the American side you can walk down to the base of the falls on a VERY wet set of steps and they also have a cantilevered lookout near to the “Rainbow Bridge” which connects the two countries.

The centre of the city which includes the falls themselves and associated attractions as well as Clifton Hill can all be accessed on foot with copious amounts of parking throughout (though this can be expensive). Once you have parked there is a paved walking path along the top of the Niagara Gorge looking out over the falls lined with metal railings that runs for a mile or so.

There is also a tourist bus We Go which is quite expensive, offering only 24 hour or 48 hour passes at £13 and £17 respectively (as of June 2025), which takes in the whole city and quite a distance down the Niagara gorge to the whirlpool, floral clock and beyond. There are also local city buses but they tend to not run directly to the central attractions. There is generally parking at each attraction but be aware you will likely have to pay for it.

As you might expect, most attractions are linked directly to the falls and can be accessed a short walk from the main visitor centre at the top of the falls, near the Skylon tower, perpetually drenched in water and/or ice depending on the time of year. The modern visitor centre has, as you might expect, a massive souvenir shop as well as locations where you can purchase tickets for all local attractions as well as providing access to “Journey Behind the Falls”.

A classic thing to do at the falls is to take the famous boats to the foot of the falls. Dressed in complementary rain jackets these tiny boats take you right to the base of the water cascade to get fully immersed in the power and majesty of this natural wonder. The boats leave from the bottom of Clifton Hill a short distance from the falls themselves.

Hornblower Niagara Cruises operates on the Canadian side of the border while Maid of the Mist operates on the United States side but the experience is basically the same.

This is the tacky, but amusing, part of the city with all sorts of brightly coloured signs advertising everything from the local Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum, the giant Ferris wheel Niagara SkyWheel to a branch of every fast food chain you can name. See https://www.cliftonhill.com/ for an idea of the delights that await but part of the fun is just walking around a gawking…

This experience takes you from the visitor centre deep into the cliff to the base of the falls with tunnels leading to viewpoints BEHIND the falls as well as to an outside viewing platform a few meters away from the thunderous cascade of water.

Complementary raincoats are offered to all visitors and the experience really gives you a feel for the power of the tonnes of water falling in front of you. Note that the area can get extremely slippery so take care and use the handrails.

The somewhat dated Skylon Tower is a great way to get a view of the falls from above. At it's base it has a old-style video arcade but you really want to go to the top where the views are amazing. There is also a famous revolving restaurant that does not serve amazing food, though a tad pricey for what you gat, but adequate with the view more than making up for it. The Skylon also has a large parking lot with reasonable rates from which you can walk a short path down a short section of the cliff to the top of the falls and the rest of the main attractions.

A short distance from the main attractions along the top of the Niagara Gorge you can take an elevator down to the base of the gorge and walk along a wooden path that follows the tumultuous river leading away from the falls. A great place to take in a bit of wildlife with birds aplenty and a bit of a quiet break from the tourist hustle and bustle of the city.

There is a small souvenir shop on site. Be aware that it can be quite a wait to enter the site if a tourist bus arrives (who go immediately to the front of the line).

An old cable car takes you out over the “Whirlpool” in the Niagara river a short distance downstream from the falls in the Niagara Gorge, a short distance from the floral clock.

The beautiful “Niagara on the Lake” is only a short 10-15 minute drive north along the Niagara River and is well worth a visit with it's small town charm and a wonderful park featuring a magnificent statue of Sir Isaac Brock (Canadian hero from the war of 1812) on the top of a tall plinth (“Brock's Monument”). This park has paid parking available.

On the road along the top of the gorge between Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake you also can get a spectacular view of the power plants that operate here - The Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant on the United States side and you literally drive over the Sir Adam Beck No. 1 Generating Station on the Canadian side. These transform the awesome power of the Niagara River into, literally, hydro electric power used by both countries. Unfortunately the Canadian plant does not offer tours but you can certainly stop and take a few pictures…The Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant does, however, have a visitor centre that you can visit for free.

At the falls themselves you can visit the Niagara Parks Power Station which has visitor facilities.

For further information, please see:

• City of Niagara Falls - Local city web site
• Lonely Planet - Niagara Falls
• Niagara Parks - Official park information
• Tourism Niagara on the Lake
• Wikipedia - Niagara Falls
• Wikipedia - Niagara Falls, New York
• Wikivoyage - Niagara Falls